th the matter
entirely settled to his satisfaction, while Minnie smiled in answer to a
few words respecting the old folks leaving them to themselves.

The evening promised to be perfect, and Minnie was waiting for their
visitor, when, just as she was beginning to be impatient, a note was
brought from the Resident stating that Rajah Hamet had come up the river
unexpectedly to discuss a question relating to the possibility of some
stronger alliance.

"I am horribly disappointed," wrote the Resident, "but it is a
Government matter, and your uncle will understand with me that I am only
too much delighted to find that this again proves that my doubts were
all wrong, and that I am glad to welcome the Rajah here. He evidently
means to stop the night, and I have sent in for Major Knowle to join us.
Under the circumstances I feel that I dare not come. However, you
shall not be disappointed; the boat is waiting with two picked men, and
I must beg that your uncle and aunt will be your companions."

"There, old lady," said the Doctor as, in a disappointed tone, his niece
finished reading the letter. "It will be rude to Sir Charles, as well
as a bitter disappointment to Minnie. Come, there's no cause for alarm.
If there were I would not ask you. Say you will come."

"No, Henry," replied the lady firmly; "I will not."

"Oh, very well," said the Doctor, as he saw the tears rising in his
niece's eyes. "You sha'n't be disappointed, Minnie. We will risk your
aunt giving some poor woman a lotion to take instead of a draught. Get
your cloak and veil. We mustn't have any trouble from the night air.
I'll take you myself.--Hullo! What in the name of wonder does this
mean? An elephant--another Rajah!"

"Two of them," said Mrs Morley anxiously, "and they are coming here."

"Yes," said the Doctor, stepping out into the veranda of his pretty
bungalow to meet his visitors, as the great, soft-footed, howdah-bearing
beast was checked by his mahout at the bamboo fence. One of the two
Malay officers bent down to inform him that the Rajah Suleiman had been
out shooting that morning with his French friend, and that, after firing
at a tiger, the wounded beast had leaped upon the Rajah's elephant, and
Suleiman and his friend had both been mauled. The bearers of the
message stated that the Doctor must come at once.

"Can't help it, my child," said the Doctor. "I am sorry for your
disappointment, but it is impossible for me to refuse.